The Australian government has delayed the introduction of its mandatory internet filtering program.

Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy says the filter will not be put in place until an independent review can be carried out into what content would be banned. He says the review is likely to take about a year.

Senator Conroy has also announced measures to address concerns that the proposed list of blocked websites would go too far and lack transparency.

Among them, an independent expert would review the list every year.
Senator Conroy says the measures are not designed to appease international critics of the plan, including the US government.